NACC wants to press new charge against Yingluck
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) wants to bring another case against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions.
According to the commission, she abused her power by unfairly ordering the transfer of Thawil Pliansri, then secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), to an inactive post in 2011.
NACC deputy secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said yesterday an investigation found that on Sept 4, 2011 Yingluck ordered the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to propose that Mr Thawil be transferred to become an adviser at the PM’s Office.
The secretariat sent a memorandum to Krisna Seehalak, then permanent secretary of the PM’s Office, and Pol Gen Kowit Wattana, who was then a deputy prime minister, telling them to approve the proposal and forward it to the cabinet.
The proposal was initially not on the cabinet meeting agenda, but was hastily tabled for consideration. The cabinet approved it. Yingluck then issued an order moving Mr Thawil from the NSC to the PM’s Office. The transfer was processed quickly and completed in only four days, Mr Niwatchai said.
On Oct 4, 2011, the cabinet appointed Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree, then police chief, as head of the NSC.
After that Yingluck, as chairwoman of the Police Commission, proposed that Pol Gen Priewphan Damapong, then deputy police chief and a close relative of hers, be appointed national police chief, filling the vacancy left by Pol Gen Wichean. This proposal was approved by the Police Commission.
According to Mr Niwatchai, the NACC believe Yingluck had committed malfeasance, a violation of Section 157 of the Criminal Code, and abused her power under the AntiCorruption Act.
He said the NACC will ask that Yingluck be indicted for malfeasance and abuse of power.